Bio

Samuel Morgan was born in 1912. By 1940, he was a 28-year-old soldier serving with the Irish Guards. He was connected to Seaforth Barracks near Liverpool but was absent without leave around the time of the murder. Historical newspaper records describe him as an Irish Guardsman from Berkeley Drive, Seaforth.

Before the murder of Mary Hagan, Morgan was already suspected in another crime. Police records from the case show that he had been remanded on a charge involving the assault and robbery of Anne McVittie on a canal bank at Ford on October 4, 1940. This earlier case became important because police were already looking into a soldier who matched descriptions connected to violent incidents in the area.

Morgan had an injured thumb shortly before Mary Hagan was killed. His family later told police that he had cut his thumb on October 31, 1940, two days before the murder. A bandage and zinc ointment used on that wound later became important forensic evidence because a matching piece of bandage was found near Mary’s body.

Murder Story

On the evening of November 2, 1940, 15-year-old Mary Hagan left her home in Waterloo, near Liverpool, to buy a newspaper and cigarette papers for her father. When she did not return, her family contacted police, and a search began. Later that night, Mary’s body was found in a wartime concrete blockhouse close to her home. Reports stated that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

Investigators found several important clues at the scene. Near Mary’s body was a muddy and bloodstained piece of bandage. Police also found a bootprint in the mud. The bandage appeared to come from a soldier’s field dressing and had signs of zinc ointment on it. This clue became central to the case because police believed the person who had worn the bandage was likely connected to Mary’s death.

A woman came forward and told police that a soldier had asked her for directions to the barracks on the night of the murder. She noticed scratches or a cut on his face. Police then checked nearby barracks and began looking for a soldier who matched the description.

Samuel Morgan was detained by Metropolitan Police at Streatham in London on November 13, 1940. The next day, he was taken back to Seaforth Police Station. Further investigation connected him to the murder. On November 17, 1940, he was charged with murdering Mary Hagan.

Forensic evidence played a major role in the prosecution. The bandage found near Mary’s body matched material linked to Morgan’s field dressing. Soil from the murder scene was also said to match dirt found on Morgan’s uniform, and his boot matched the cast taken from the footprint near the body. These findings helped link Morgan directly to the blockhouse where Mary was found.

Morgan was tried and found guilty of murder. He was executed by hanging at Walton Prison in Liverpool on April 4, 1941.